Spirit-level.



A.. 'T. GIBSON. SPIRIT LEVEL.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 12, 1905.

PATENTED JUNE 26, 1906.

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)M m 0 A w m m A y UNITED PA E T OFFICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

.Eatentea June 26 1906.

, Application filed AugustlZ. 190a. Serial No. 273,958.

To all whom it may concern.

5 Be it known that I, ALLEN T. GIBSON, a cltizen of the United States, residing at Hodges, in the county ofJones and State of Texas, have invented a new and useful Spirit- Level, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to spirit-levels. H

The object of the invention is to provide a spirit-level wherein by the novel arrangement of its parts the instrument may be used not only for obtaining level and perpendicular lines, but also for determining any desired intermediate angle with accuracy and case.

With the above and other objects in view, as will appear as the nature of the invention is better understood, the same consists in the novel construction and combination of parts of a s irit-level, as will be hereinafter fully descri ed and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, and in which like charac.ers of reference indicate corresponding parts, Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of a s irit-level constructed in accordance with t e present invention. Fig. 2 is a top plan view of a portion of the level. Fi .3 is a view in transverse section, taken on t e line 3 3, -1. i i

The stock 1 of the level may be made of any suitable material, preferably of hard wood, as usual, and is faced on one edge with a metal strip 2 and on its other edge intermediate of its ends is provided with an inset plate 3, having a si ht-opening 4, through which the bubble in t e tube may be inspected, as usual. The edge of the stock just described is graduated into inches and parts of inches, which, as shown in Fi "1, extend down on the side, thereby .to facllitate "measuring .by holding the implement in different positions.

Near one end of the stock isan orifice 5, which. extends entirely throu h the same and within which is arran ed a splrit-tube 6, that constitutes a plumb, t 'e same being disposed exactly at right angles to the lengthof the stock and held in place by plates 7, which lie flush with the sides of the stock, this arrangement being adopted in 'order to permit the tube 7 to be inspected from both sides of the level. Near the other end of the stock is arranged a compass 8 of the usual or any preferred construction and which is em loyed for running lines for the foundations 0 buildings. The compass has combined with it a degrees may be computed. This tube is needle-locking lever 9, which when the im- Element is not in use in running lines will old the needle off the pivot, and thereby prevent damage thereto.

The spirit-tube 10' beneath the plate 3 is used for ordinary leveling purposes, and the spirit-tubev 6, as above pointed out, for plumbmg-work, and in order to provide means whereby different angles may accurately be determined there is a third spirittube 11 provided, which, as shown in F1g. 1, is somewhat greater than a semicircle in order that angles up to one hundred and eiglhpy in position within the stock 1 by means of four plates 12, 13, 14, and 15, and in order to shield the tube 11 from injury it is disposed intermediate of the width of the stock, as clearly shown in Fig. 3. The plates 12 and 13 are disposed at inward-diverging angles relatively to the tube and bear thereon, the outer faces of the plates being each divided into a sector, as shown in Fig. 1, for the purpose of determining degrees of inclination. The 1plates 14 and 15 are similarly inclined and ave their outer faces formed into sectors for the same purpose, the divisions of the four plates coinciding, thereby to secure absolute accuracy indetermining the angle at which the stock may be held by bringing the center of the bubble opposite the angle desired, as

shown. The plates 14 and 15 extend to and bear against the facing-strip 2 and will thereby be protected from in'ury and are held combined with the stock by screws 16. By having the plates 12 15 inclined, as described, the scales thereon will be protected from liability to damage, will be brought closer to the spirit-tube 11, and thus insure more accurate measurement of angles, and, further, will afford a positive means of holding the tube combined with the stock. As will be observed by reference to Fig. 3, the o posed faces'of the seats 17, in which the tu e 1s disposed, are concaved to conform to the sha e of the tube, and thus operates jointly sectors or plates 11 15 can always be brought accurately to the center of the bubble.

As stated, the spirit-tube 11 is somewhat greater than a semicircle, and in order to perl bine in the production of an implement that will be thorougly reliable and efficient in use and one that will not be liable to become deranged when employed.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is A spirit-level comprising a stock having a segmental opening inthe body thereof, the edges of the opening being beveled, an arcuate bubble-tube fitting within the opening, retaining-plates applied to the beveled edges of the opening and en aging the tube, a segmental block within the openin and engaging the inner eriphery of the tube, the menate edges of t ie block being beveled, retaininglates applied to the beveled edges of the bloc and engagin the tube, and an edge strip secured to t 1e stock and extending across the opening to hold the tube and the block therein.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

ALLEN T. GIBSON. 

